Beveridge Wins 5th, Tuft 6th National TT Title

The first day of competition at the 2010 Canadian Road Cycling Championships saw Canada’s best road cyclists take-on the time trial course with force in Devon, Alberta, and the top riders didn’t disappoint as Julie Beveridge and Svein Tuft took home the ultimate Canadian Titles.

Conditions for the women’s race were close to ideal, with the wind picking-up for the last few riders. It was no different For the men’s race as the headwind and crosswind forced riders to carefully manage their exertion mainly on the first portion of the course.

In the women’s Elite and U23 category, Calgary’s Julie Beveridge (Équipe Vienne Futuroscope) collected the double title as she raced the 21km course in a time of 28 minutes and 51.0 seconds, averaging speeds of 41.59 km/h. For Beveridge, it was her fifth consecutive national Time Trial Title, spanning the two age categories.

“I didn’t go too hard on the way out. I rode the course three days in a row and figured that the wind was strong and to save it for the way back, so I kept a little bit for the end and it paid off…I was told I gained 11 seconds in the final climb on Tara!” commented Beveridge at the end of her victorious ride.

Beveridge set the third fastest time on the time split, taken at the turn-around and then blitzed her way back to take the win.

Canadian veteran Anne Samplonius (Team Vera Bradley Foundation Team) crossed the finish line in second position, stopping the clock at 28 minutes and 53 seconds, just 2.3 seconds behind the winner Local favorite Tara Whitten (Specialized Mazda Samson G Conseil) claimed third place by posting a time of 28 minutes and 56.5 seconds.

” I am super happy.” said Bilodeau. “I was aiming at nothing less than a podium. I had a good time trial and I can say that I reached my goal.”

Tuft does it again in the men’s action. The Elite men’s competition saw Svein Tuft (Garmin-Transitions) win his sixth Canadian title in the individual time trial in seven years. Furthermore, and most impressive of all, it was Tuft’s 10th consecutive National Championships Time Trial Top3 placing.

“It was great to have Zach Bell as my 2 minute man ‘cause when I started reeling him in at the turn-around, I knew I was on a good pace, Zach can roll pretty good on this type of course, so I knew right then I was having a pretty good day,” said Tuft after his impressive performance.

Joining him on the podium were track Olympian Zach Bell (Kelly Benefit Strategies)in second place and, winning bronze was the 2005 U23 National Road Champion Ryan Roth (SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy).

Tuft completed the 40KM course around Devon in a blazing time of 48 minutes 23 seconds at an average speed of 49.60 km/h, finishing a whopping one minute 49 seconds faster than Bell and two minutes and 44 seconds faster than Roth.

In the men’s U23 category, Hugo Houle from the Quebec provincial team won the Canadian title in front of Guillaume Boivin (SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy) in second and Jordan Cheyne (Mazur Coaching-Wheels of Bloor) who collected the bronze.

“I was a little bit surprised.” admitted Houle. “I knew that I had a good chance if I was on a good day. I wasn’t convinced because I didn’t feel well during the time trial. So I gave it all I had telling myself that it’s the Canadian Championships and I had to put it all on the line.”

Tomorrow will be a training day for the riders competing in the road race on Sunday in downtown Edmonton. Women will start at 8:30 A.M. and the men will hit the course at 1:00 P.M. at the William Hawrelak Park. The Sunday event will be held on a similar course to the 1978 Commonwealth Games. While the circuit race held on a 13-km course throughout the City of Edmonton is a bit hillier than last year’s course, it should still favor sprinters. Women will complete 10 laps while the men ride the course 14 times. The Elite and U23 riders race together but are scored separately.